South Africa men’s hockey team coach Fabian Gregory has resigned.

Gregory has accepted a post as head coach of the Valley Hockey Club in Hong Kong.

He was appointed as SA men’s coach in 2014 after the resignation of Charlie Pereira and led South Africa to the World Cup, where they finished 11th, and the Commonwealth Games, finishing fifth.

Gregory will also be remembered for bringing through youngsters, which was evident at the FIH World League semi-final in Johannesburg.

Gregory’s involvement in South African hockey stems back almost 20 years when he was first elected as a national U16 coach and subsequently spent time in various roles including a long stint as the assistant coach to the national ladies side.

‘My journey with SA Hockey has been an incredible one and one that I won’t forget,’ he said. ‘The new opportunity is one that is too good to turn away and I look forward to coaching in a full-time structure at Valley Hockey Club.

‘I have so many people I need to thank, from the backroom staff to the players who I have been privileged to work with and learn from, to the likes of former president Dave Carr who taught me so much as a coach.’

The South African men’s side’s next challenge will be attempting to qualify for the World Cup at the 2017 African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Egypt in October.

SA Hockey has confirmed that it will be appointing an interim coach for the series.

Photo: SA Hockey